Front end loaders



Dec. 5, 1961 G. R. DEMPSTER ETAL 3,011,666

FRONT END LOADERS Filed May 8, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet l BYMi moan ATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1961 G. R. DEMPSTER ETAL 3,011,666

FRONT END LOADERS Filed May 8, 1957 5 Sheets-She'et 2 6 w a a H 2 g i i i a g E i w I i w g a In w Q 1 q g \Q m WW, an \3 m 4 J \& w J m 06 ea W? I\ Q n N W W W INVENTORS BYjivux 1mm;

ATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1961 G. R. DEMPSTER ETAL 3,011,666

FRONT END LOADERS 5 SheetsSheet 5 Filed May 8, 1957 im m;

ATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1961 e. R. DEMPSTER ETAL 3,011,666

FRONT END LOADERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 8, 1957 l hh rzia m 1 O T I W a 1 5 p a M5 0 m a MM 14 F/ ATTORNEY Dec. 5, 1961 G. R. DEMPSTER ETAL 3,

FRONT END LOADERS Filed May 8, 1957 5 SheetsSheet 5 5 R W Z v 3 m 7mm 5 0. RM m ff Z i raw/M w ATTORNEYS Fatented Dec. 5, 1951 3,011,666 FRONT END LOADERS George R. Dempster and William A. Herpich, Knoxville, Tenn; said Herpich assi nor to Dempster Brothers, Inc, Knoxville, Team, a corporation of Tennessee Filed May 8, 1957, Ser. No. 657,782 7 Claims. (Cl. 214-392) This invention relates to improvements in front end loaders of the character used for picking up containers at the front of a motor vehicle and dumping the contents therefrom into the body of the vehicle.

Devices have been used heretofore for picking up separable containers at the front of a motor vehicle, which are filled separate and independent of the vehicle, and dumping the contents therefrom into the vehicle, such, for example, as into a compaction body mounted on the vehicle. Such containers usually have open tops, with no provisions for closing the filling openings therein or, if closures are provided thereon, these interfere materially with the automatic dumping of the contents into the compaction body.

Containers of the type referred to are usually placed in accessible positions as, for instance, near stores or places of business, to be filled with trash and refuse, and frequently barbage or other disposable materials. It is desirable that such containers be provided with closure lids thereon, so as to confine odors therein and to exclude insects and flies. However, the provisions of such closure lids requires either the manual opening thereof before dumping of the contents into the compaction body or the presence of the lids would interfere with the dumping of the contents.

One object of this invention is to overcome the foregoing objections and to improve the construction of the front end loader and containers to permit the use of closure lids on the containers, and yet without interference by the lids with the dumping of the contents into the body of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide for holding a closure lid on a container in closed position thereon as the container is picked up by a front end loader and moved substantially to a dumping position and for releasing the lid automatically for dumping the contents therefrom into the body of the vehicle.

Still another object of the invention is to improve th construction of a front end loader to hold the lid of a container connected therewith closed during movement to a dumping position and for automatically releasing the lid for dumping, without appreciable shock to the vehicle or the mounting means of the loader.

These obiects may be accomplished, according to certain embodiments of the invention, by mounting lifting arms on a motor vehicle for swinging movement from a pick-up position to a dumping position with respect to the body of the vehicle. Fork arms are carried by the lifting arms and have provision for detachable connection with a separate container, so as to engage and lift the container automatically in response to operation of the lifting arms. Then, upon movement of the lifting arms, the container can be shifted to a dumping position for discharging the contents therefrom into the body of the vehicle.

A container of the type referred to may be provided with an open top or have an access opening therein. It is desirable that such top or access opening be provided with a closure lid that may be lifted, introducing refuse into the container, and then closed to confine the refuse and to exclude insects and flies.

In picking up and dumping such a container, the

closure lid would interfere with the dumping action if it .were free to swing open whenever desired. Consequently, a lid-holding latch assembly should be provided on the front end loader device for confining the lid in a closed position during the movement of the container to a dumping position and until it is desired to release the lid for opening and for dumping the contents from the container. Such a lid-holding latch assembly should function automatically, both in holding the lid closed and in releasing the lid for opening, Without requiring movement by an attendant. Thus, one operator in the cab of the vehicle can accomplish the entire operation of picking up and dumping the container, and thereafter the container can be lowered to the ground or other suitable surface for refilling.

These embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a front end loader having the invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lid-holding latch assembly, partly disassembled;

FIG. 4 is a cross section therethrough, on the line 4-4 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation thereof; partly broken away and in section;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation, showing a modified form of loader assembly and latch assembly;

FIG. 7 is a detail side elevation, partly in section, of the modified form of latch assembly; and

FIG. 8 is a detail view at right angles thereto.

The invention is shown applied to a motor vehicle including a vehicle chassis, generally indicated by the numeral 1, having the conventional supporting wheels and being self-propelled and steerable in the usual manner. An operators cab is shown at 2, within which the operator is stationed for controlling and operating the vehicle.

The vehicle chassis 1 is usually provided with a refuse receiving body, generally indicated at 3, thereon, which has an opening into the top thereof adjacent the front, as shown at 4, and which opening may be in the form of a hopper, if desired, through which the refuse or contents of the container may be discharged into the body 3.

The container used with the loading device may be of any suitable form, many variations of which are known. In the form thereof shown in the drawings as an example of the container, the latter comprises an enclosed body portion, generally indicated at 5, having an opening in the top thereof through which the refuse can be directed into the container and discharged therefrom when the container is picked up and inverted. It is preferred that the top opening be provided with a closure lid, indicated at 6, which is hinged at 7 to the body portion 5 of the container. Normally, the lid 6 is held closed by gravity or other suitable means and may be lifted or fall away from the body portion of the container for introducing or discharging the contents.

At opposi e ends of the container 5, suitable means should be provided on the end walls thereof for engagement by the loader to lift and handle the container. in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, this lifting means comprises pockets 8 on the end walls extending horizontally and open at opposite ends. Such pockets may be formed by U-shaped members welded or otherwise secured to the respective end walls. They will cooperate with the loading means in the manner hereinafter described.

At opposite sides of the vehicle are lifting arms 9 which extend generally lengthwise of the vehicle in their lowered positions and may be located outside the cab 2 or in other suitable relation thereto, as, for example, extending over the top of the cab or over portions thereof, according to the structure and character of these lifting arms. The lifting arms 9 are connected together by and pivoted on, a torque tube it that extends transversely of the vehicle chassis, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, being journaled in a suitable bearing block assembly, indicated at 11, for freedom of rotation in moving the lifting arms to their raised and lowered positions, as indicated in dotted lines and in full lines in FIG. 1.

Fixed upon the torque tube intermediate the length thereof, but in positions to be disposed outside the chassis frame 1, are levers 12 for causing turning movement of the torque tube 10 and thereby moving the lifting arms 9. A hydraulic cylinder device 13 has the piston rod thereof pivotally connected at 14 with the lever 12 at each opposite side of the chassis frame, and the opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder device 13 is pivotally connected at 15 with a bracket 16 mounted on the adjacent side of the chassis frame 1. Thus, the torque tube 10 is rotated in the bearing box 11 for movement of the lifting arms 9 upon expanding or collapsing action of the hydraulic cylinder devices 13.

Each of the lifting arms 9 preferably isformed either as a solid bar or in the form of a box girder construction, and extends outwardly from the torque tube It} in a direction forwardly of the vehicle when lowered in the fullline position shown in FIG. 1. The length of the lifting arm 9 should be suflicient so that the front. end thereof is disposed at or adjacent the front end of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the front end of each lifting arm 9 hasa bearing plate 17 mounted thereon, being formed separate from the lifting arm 9, but in side-byside relation with the outer end of the arm and welded or otherwise secured rigidly thereto. The extreme end of the arm 9 may be so formed as to provide an abutting face 18, either directly exposed or covered by shims or the like, as hereinafter described. 7

A torque tube is indicated at 19, extending transversely V of the vehicle and journaled in the bearing plates 17. The outer ends of the torque tube 19 project through the respective bearing plates 17. Lever plates 20 are fixed rigidly on the respective projecting ends of the torque tube 19. Each of the lever plates 20 has an edge face 21 in a position for complementary engagement with the end face 18 on the lifting arm 9 when the lever 20 is moved to one extreme position.

Mounted rigidly on the torque tube 19 is a pair of fork arms 22, spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive therebetween the body portion 5 of the container and spaced substantially corresponding with the length of the container. These arms 22 are sufiiciently elongated to be moved into and through the lifting pockets 8 when the torque tube 19 is disposed at one side of the container 5. Stops or abutments 23 on the outer ends of the arms 22 cooperate with the ends of the lifting pockets 8 to prevent accidental release of the container from the fork arms, except when the latter are moved in central alignment with the pockets.

It is desirable that the fork arms 22 be mounted for swinging movement with respect to the lifting arms 9. Thus, the torque tube 19, on which the fork arms 22 are mounted, is journaled for turning movement when actuated by the lever plates 20. Any suitable means may be used, as desired, for operating the lever plates to rotate the torque tube 19 to the required extent.

in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a hydraulic cylinder device 24 is pivotally mounted at one end at 25 on the underside of each lifting arm 9, while the piston of said hydraulic cylinder device 24 is conof such guiding means is provided by a link 28 pivoted at 29 to the adjacent lifting arm 9 and pivoted at 30 to the link 26. Thus, upon operation of the hydraulic power device 24, the link 26 is moved in one direction or another, being guided in such movements by the link 28.

Mounted on each of the fork arms 22 and extending upwardly therefrom is a bearing bracket 31 (see FIGS. 3 to 5), having a cap 32 adapted to be secured thereover to form a bearing box. The bearing bracket 31 may be welded or otherwise secured rigidly to a side of the fork arm 22 and extends at a suitable angle, so as to dispose the axis of the bearing thereof substantially over the axis of the torque tube 19. v

Mounted on the bearing brackets 31 is a lid-holding latch assembly comprising a bearing rod 33 having journals 34 at opposite ends thereof in positionto be seated in the bearing brackets 31 and to be'confined by the cap plates 32 thereof for freedom of turning movement of the latch assembly relative to the bearing-brackets 31. The mounting rod 33 extends through the respective bearing brackets 31-32 and outwardly in opposite directions therebeyond. The outer ends of the rod 33 have mounted thereon levers 35 which extend above and below said rod 33. The upper and lower ends, respectively, of the levers 35 are connected together by rods 36 and 37, respectively. The rod 36 is adapted for engaging and holding down the lid 6 of the container 5, as will be apparent from FIG. 4. Also connected with the levers 35 are counterweights 38 normally tending to hold the latch assembly in upstanding relation, substantially as illustrated in FIG. 4. These counterweights. 38 are formed of relatively heavy segmental plates, welded or otherwise secured to the levers 35 and to the rods 33 and 37 in a manner that will properly balance the latch assembly and hold the same in the desired position.

Mounted on each of the lifting arms 9 and extending inwardly therefrom is a pin 39 projecting into the path of the adjacent counterweight lever 35 and counterweight 38 for tripping the latter when the container has been moved to a dumping position, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1.

In operation, the containers 5 are filled with refuse, separate and'apart from the hoisting device or loader. For example, they may be placed at suitable positions near buildings, factories, and the like, where the refuse can be placed therein upon raising the lid 6. The container should be turned so as to afford access thereto by the loader, with the lid hinge 7 away from the position of the loader when moved up to the container 5.

The lifting arms 9 are lowered by the hydraulic power devices 13 so as to dispose the fork arms 22 in such positions as to pass through the lifting pockets 8 on the ends of the container. The movement of the loader toward the container can continue until the torque arm 19 strikes the side of the container, which will let the operator know that he has moved into full engaging relation therewith and that it is safe to lift the container. In this position, the lid-holding latch assembly will be in the relation to the lid 6, substantially as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, whereby the free edge of the lid 6 will underlie the hold-down rod 36 during the lifting movement of the container, being held in this relation by the counterweights 38.

Then the lifting arms 9 can be turned by the hydraulic power devices 13 to move these arms from the full-line positions in FIG. 1 to the dotted-line positions therein, thus moving the container 5 off the ground and to an elevated position over the front end of the refuse body 3. The container is carried by the fork arms 22' engaging the lifting pockets 8 on the ends of the container until it reaches this desired elevated position.

When the lifting arms 9 have been moved substantially to their upright positions, the container 5 will be somewhat horizontal, but the lid 6 will be held closed by the latch assembly 35-38. The full stroke of the hydraulic hoists 13 will be sufficient to accomplish the desired 7 movement of the arms 9 or stop means may be provided to limit the extreme movement thereof. Then, the hydraulic power devices 24 can be operated to move the container upside down in dumping position. This movement can be practically continuous, first moving the arms 9 and, immediately on the latter reaching their upright positions, the hoists 24 can be operated to continue the upsetting movement of the container.

The hydraulic power devices 24 will cause swinging movement of the fork arms 22 on the axis of the torque tube 19, thereby rotating the fork arms relative to the lifting arms 9. When this rotation continues until the fork arms 22 have reached substantially horizontal positions over the filling opening 4 of the body 3, the latch levers 35 or counterweights 38 engage the pins 39 on the lifting arms 9, thereby rocking the latch assembly on the axis of the rod 33, to withdraw the hold-down rod 36 from the lid 6. This frees the lid 6 for dropping open, as shown in the dotted line position in FIG. 1, allowing the discharge of the refuse from the container 5 into the body 3.

The swinging movements of the fork arms 22 may be limited by the engagement of the surfaces 21 on the lever plates against the abutting faces 18 on the lifting arms 9. Shims may be provided thereon for varying the swinging movements of the fork arms with respect to the lifting arms.

As soon as the dumping action has been completed, the operation described may be reversed. The fork arms 22 are rotated out of their horizontal positions substantially into alignment with the lifting arms 9 for raising the container 5 and its lid 6 out of the hopper of the body 3. Then, the hydraulic power devices 13 can be operated in the opposite direction to return the lifting arms 9 to their lowered positions setting the container back on the ground or other supporting surface. Then, the truck may be backed off from the container and moved into engagement with another container for dumping that in the same manner.

A modified form of lid-holding latch assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, in which corresponding parts of the loader and container are designated with the same numerals as described above.

In this form, the loader is substantially the same as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and is provided with fork arms 22 mounted on a torque tube 19 on the outer ends of the lifting arms 9. This torque tube 19 is operated by hydraulic power devices 24, the piston rods of which are connected through links 26' with levers 20 on the torque tube 19. The connecting link 26' and piston rod of the power device 24 are guided by a slidable guide member 28' in this form of the invention, mounted on the underside of the lifting arm 9 for sliding movement relative thereto.

The hold-down latch assembly, according to this form of the invention, is illustrated more in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8. This latch assembly is mounted on the torque tube 19 by means of upstanding brackets 41 fixed to the torque tube 19. A mounting rod 42 extends between the upper ends of the brackets 41 and is supported thereby. A lid-holding latch 43 is mounted on the rod 42, preferably adjacent each opposite end thereof, although any suitable or desired number of such latches may be used, as required. Each latch 43 is provided with a hub member 44 journaled freely for turning movement on the rod 42. A counterweight 45 is fixed securely to the latch 43 and extends downwardly therefrom, preferably at an oblique angle, as indicated in FIG. 7.

An anchor bracket 46 is pinned or otherwise secured rigidly to the rod 42 in upstanding relation therefrom. This bracket 46 is connected by a coiled spring 47 with a bracket 48 mounted rigidly on the latch 43. Thus, the spring 47, being anchored securely at one end to the bracket 46, will exert spring tension, normally tending to move the lid-holding latch 43 forward over the free edge of the lid 6 when the fork arms 22 are in embracing relation with the container 5. The counterbalance arms 45 are in position to engage the pins 39 to release the latches 43 from the lid 6 when the fork arms 22 are moved to the extreme right dotted line positions shown in FIG. 6 thereby freeing the lid and allowing it to drop open when the container 5 reaches its upside down dumping position in the hopper of the refuse body 3.

This form of the invention is operated substantially as described above with respect to the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, except as to the functioning of the lid-holding latch assembly, as described in connection with FIGS. 6 to 8. It is believed that the description of the operation of this form will be apparent.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in certain embodiments, it is recognized that other variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

We claim:

1. In a loading device for dumping a refuse container into a body, the combination with a container and a lid hinged to the container, of lifting arms having means for engaging the container and supporting the container for movement by the arms substantially to a dumping position, and latch means carried by the lifting arms extending from side to side therebetween and in position for holding the lid closed during movement of the container substantially to a dumping position.

2. In a loading device for dumping a refuse container into a body, the combination with a container and a lid hinged to the container, of lifting arms having means for engaging the container and supporting the container for movement by the arms substantially to a dumping position, latch means carried by the lifting arms extending into a body, the combination With a container and a lid hinged to the container, of lifting arms having means for engaging the container and supporting the container for movement by the arms substantially to a dumping position, latch means carried by the lifting arms extending from side to side therebetween and in position for holding the lid closed during movement of the container substantially to a dumping position, means yieldably urging the latch means to said holding position, and means on the arms for releasing the latch means from holding relation with the lid when the container is moved substantially to a dumping position.

4. In a loader, the combination with a motor vehicle, of a dumping container having a discharge opening, a lid hinged to the container and normally closing said discharge opening, lifting devices on opposite ends of the container, lifting arms mounted on the motor vehicle and operatively engaging the lifting devices on the ends of the container for raising the container substantially to a dumping position with respect to the refuse body, means carried by the lifting arms and bearing upon the lid substantially throughout the length of the container between the lifting arms, said means normally tending to hold the lid closed until the container is moved substantially to a dumping position with respect to the body, and means for releasing said lid holding means when the container is moved substantially to said dumping position for opening the lid relative thereto.

5. In a loader for picking up a refuse container and dumping the container into a vehicle body, said container having a hinged lid thereon, the combination with a lifting device for the container, of a lid-holding latch assembly comprising a supporting rod mounted on the lifting device, a pair of levers supported by the rod, a hold-down rod extending in bridging relation between the levers in position for overlying the lid, and counterweights connected with the levers normally tending to urge the hold-down rod to said holding position.

6. In a loader for picking up a refuse container and dumping the container into a vehicle body, said container having a hinged lid thereon, the combination with a lifttogether the opposite ends of said levers, at least one of which rods is in position to engage the container and hold the lid in place.

7. In a loader for picking up a refuse container and dumping the containerinto a vehicle body, said container having a hinged lid thereon, the combination with a lifting device for the container, of a lid holding latch assembly comprising a supporting rod, upstanding hearing brackets mounted on the lifting device and supporting the rod thereon, levers mounted on the supporting rod intermediate the length of said levers, rods connecting 7 together the opposite ends of said levers, at least one of which rods is in position to engage the containerlid and hold the lid in' place, and ,counterweights fixed to the levers in positions to urge said one rod upon the lid. 7

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,478 Kaplan Ian. ,6, 1953 2,679,326 Isaksen 1. May 25, 1954 2,704,613 Biedess Mar. 22, 1955 2,707,058 Fischer Apr. 26, 1955 2,737,307 Strau-b Mar. 6, 1956 2,744,642 Se'well et a1. May 8, 1956 2,824,655 Harbers Feb. 25, 1958 

